Rival ACC “Villains” Over the Years?
Heather Dinich did an interesting blog for ESPN.com recently in which she listed the “villains” for each ACC team.
She listed Tech’s “current” villain as the bogus helmet-to-helmet call in the Hokies loss last year and she listed the “all time” GT villain as Bear Bryant, largely because of the Chick Granning incident and Bobby Dodd’s competition with Bryant when Bama and GT were two of the most dominant programs in the country.
I can’t disagree with either of those. That bogus call very likely cost the Jackets a berth in the ACC title game and GT fans almost uniformly hate Bama and Bear Bryant. So from my perspective she was pretty much on target.
Her blog also got me to thinking about “villains” or Jacket “killers” that I remember as players or coaches amongst the other ACC teams. So I sat down and scribbled out a quick list as I thought about each team in the ACC we’ve played against since I first started following Tech football in the late ’80s.
What “villains” do you remember from our ACC rivals and games? Here are mine…
Boston College – Mike Cloud! Anyone else remember Cloud running for over 200 yards against us in 1998? We wound up 10-2 that season but we may have been 11-1 and playing in a really big bowl game if Cloud hadn’t single handedly carried BC to an early season upset on our own turf. True, the Eagles weren’t an ACC team when that game was played but they count today.
Clemson – Woody Dantzler. The QB draw…over and over and over again. Danztler threw for 254 and two TDs while running for 164 and two TDs. This game followed the events of 9/11 and Tech never really recovered from the OT loss as we dropped out of the national title picture.
Duke – Chris Douglas. 211 yards and two TDs in the 2003 road loss up in Durham. I was at that game and distinctly remember telling one of my buddies as we walked into the stadium, “Duke has one guy who can really hurt us…watch their running back, #4, he’s good enough to play for anyone in the conference.”
Florida State – Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews gets special consideration here. His dirty brand of defense in the ’90s resulted in Joe Hamilton rarely finishing a game against the ‘Noles. Tech fans by and large consider Andrews the master instigator behind way too many late hits designed to get Hamilton out of the game. Hamilton only ever completed one game without an injury against FSU, in 1999, when he went 22 of 25 for 387 yards and four TDs while rushing for another. FSU fans I know still say Hamilton’s performance in that game was the best they’ve ever seen at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Maryland - This one was tougher and I settled on Ralph Friedgen. I still remember the bitter disappointment when The Fridge left his offensive coordinator job at Tech to take over the Terps program. Yeah, he deserved the chance to be the head man at Maryland, but it still stung when he left. Its ok to revere him for his time at Tech and dislike him as the Terps coach. Its only natural right?
Miami – We’ve beaten these guys 4 straight and own a 4-10 all time record against them. At this point they are something of an afterthought. As far as a “villain” goes I’ll take the opposite approach I took with Maryland. I disliked Patrick Nix as a Jacket and loved him as a Cane. Having Nix calling the offense for Miami was almost like having a double agent in place that you could count on to sabotage your opponent. Since noone has stepped up at Miami in the recent past to really fill the villain role, I’ll leave it to Nix for safekeeping.
North Carolina – We’ve owned the the Heels for the most part. But after last season, I think Butch Davis has landed on Paul Johnson’s list of villains with along with mine. Going for it on 4th down and converting a 31 yard TD pass in the waning minutes of a game you control…Paul Johnson remembers things like that. Look for Tech to run up the score any time the opportunity presents itself.
NC State – Terrance Holt. Anyone else remember Holt taunting Kerry Watkins after their OT victory in 2000? I’ll always remember his actions as a clear cut example of poor sportsmanship.
Virginia – Cedric Peerman spoiling Homecoming last season was the first thing to jump out at me when I pondered who would qualify as a UVA “villain”. Al Groh is easy to dislike as well. I just can’t shake the image of Peerman plowing into the endzone for the go ahead score last season…from my seats, I had a great view of the play…it sucked…
Virginia Tech – This one is easy. I hate the entire team and everything associated with it. These guys are the new “punk” team in the ACC if you ask me. If UGA is our 1A rival then the Hokies are a close 1B. Since joining the ACC they’ve shown repeated poor sportsmanship and have quickly surpassed FSU, Miami, and NCSU as the brats most likely to showboat, throat slash, or just generally act like a fool. Losing to them last season because of a bogus helmet to helmet call was just adding insult to injury.
Wake Forest – Its hard to dislike these guys. I think Grobe is a fine coach and Wake is a fine academic institution. Can anyone come up with a real Wake Forest “villain”? Help me out here…the best I can do is the Tereshinski brother who caught the big pass in the 2006 ACC title game. His brother was a Bulldog so maybe he’s guilty by association…
I’m curious to see everyone’s responses…who are the “villains” you remember from your days watching GT’s ACC opponents?
Go Jackets!
THWG!
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112 comments Add your comment
Marilyn
August 20th, 2009
10:42 pm
I agree with everything the writer said about VT. I live 15 minutes from their campus and have to put up with their fans 365 days a year. She is “spot on”. And I agree with the poster who said they are thugs. I, for one, wish they had NEVER been invited to join the ACC and wish there were some way we could “uninvite” them. I expect the other 11 ACC schools feel the same way.
Paul Johnson
August 20th, 2009
11:56 pm
I’m a queer. You mighta seen me in Deliverance. Good thing them dawgs didn’t tackle. I’m hedin for the green pastures of South Bend next year. Dem Kathlics don’t care if you bang little boys. Paradise awaits!
Jhenny
August 20th, 2009
11:58 pm
Wow, your ignorance towards the VT team is truly astounding. VT has one the sportsmanship award for a few years running now… you can’t compare the entire team to a few players who have acted poorly. GT is nothing to VT. We care about GT the week we play them and then it’s done. They are no threat to us and they are no where close to a rival. I’m sorry you think you’re so important.
Tech will 3peat the ACC championship this year and will go to a BCS bowl for the 3rd year straight. Anyone who calls VT a bunch of “thugs” is an ignorant fool who is probably jealous. Jealously is not attractive so get off your high horses and accept the fact that VT has a very talented team. Beamer is a great man and an amazing coach and his staff as well as the team deserve the success they’ve earned. YES, earned. They work their asses off to get the success they do.
VT fans are the most loyal fans in college sports. Hands down. Lane Stadium is the 5th toughest stadium in the country because our fans are so incredible. The campus in general is a huge support network and the alumni base is amazing.
Disagree all you want, but all you are doing is denying the facts.
Jhenny
August 21st, 2009
12:00 am
hahaha won* not one. it’s late lol
Jim
August 21st, 2009
7:06 am
Simply put, you are a moron. First you complain about FSU “playing to the echo of the whistle” and they whine because a call went against GT. You completely over look the fact that GT’s highly over hyped and over rated all world DE had a facemask penalty a couple plays later on a play that also extended the drive. Get over it, GT had at least 4 plays of their own doing (3 fumbles plus the facemask) that resulted in the loss. While VT has had its punk players (all of whom seem to get drafted by your beloved Falcons ,so that either says something about Atlanta’s preferences or that maybe they aren’t the punks that you profess), that has most definitely NOT been the case since joining the ACC.
As far as the rest…. I have to laugh at the notion that just because a player is good and GT is a historically weak team, doesn’t make the players “villians”. How about eaching the team to actually stop a player (particularly when that player is successful executing the same play over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
m
August 21st, 2009
10:22 am
The worst villain that Tech has ever had is chan gomer gailey. He single handedly destroyed Tech football for 6 long UNNECESSARY years.
And any TECH fan that ever supported or defended chan gomer gailey in any way sucks just as bad as he did.
Thank God and Greyhound that the worst coach in the history of the world is gone forever.
BLAZER
August 21st, 2009
1:41 pm
chris-anyway you can keep the stupid stuff off of this???
DeaconPeach
August 21st, 2009
1:43 pm
It’s going back a bit, but I think AJ Greene’s 4 interceptions at GT on 11/21/87 might make him the Wake Forest “villain” against Tech.
Trade School Junkie
August 21st, 2009
3:22 pm
Specific List of Villains: (It ALL Starts here)
1. Dave Braine
2. Chan Gailey
General List of Villains (in no particular order):
1. Scott Stadium: Charlottesville, VA
2. ACC Refs
3. Mickey Andrews
4. Wake Forest (Loss to WF probably cost Hamilton the Heisman)
5. UVA Offensive Line (any year)
6. The “Flag Boy” (so embarassing)
7. The MORON who chose O’Leary over Friedgen for GT HC
8. The MORON that hired Dave Braine
9. The MORON that hired Curry rather than naming Spurrier as HC
10. The MORON that hired B*** L***
11. B*** L***
12. Tom Luginbill
Josefa
August 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
Chris, Butch Davis will own CPJ. Tech will never even sniff the opportunity to “run up the score” on UNC. You’re an idiot.
GHT
August 21st, 2009
9:30 pm
Trade School Junkie stick to Dungeons and Dragons. Everyone knows Spurrier turned the Tech job down,
GHT
August 21st, 2009
9:34 pm
Jhenny, Bud Foster’s D will also do an LSU on GT. VT will kill GT.
Santana Moss
August 21st, 2009
9:43 pm
UGA owns their azz too Jhenny, but hear these girls talk you’d think it was them that has dominated that series instead of the other way around. Oh well. Their 15 minutes of fame ends with a return to 7-5 in 09. They are Tech. Let them talk. Makes it that much more fun to see the GT hats laying on the roadways and the little bitch3s foaming at the mouth in rage after the next loss to UGA, VT, FSU, UNC, UVA,……………..
superDawg
August 21st, 2009
11:55 pm
Shockley and Veron Haynes look pretty good for a GEORGIA DAWG.
superDawg
August 21st, 2009
11:57 pm
Santana Moss you read my mind.
superDawg
August 21st, 2009
11:59 pm
Santana you left out NC STATE.
superDawg
August 22nd, 2009
12:19 am
Thomas Brown I apoligize for not mentioning you as well.
George P. Burdell
August 22nd, 2009
1:08 am
When you “one” the sportmanship award, that is for all the athletic programs, not based solely on the football team. I am almost certain that vote would turn out differently. Just look at Michael Vick and, if he hadn’t gotten his butt in trouble before he could wear the colors, Marcus Vick. That is exactly what your program is all about. Get over yourself, Tech was Tech before VT was even on the board and we’ll be around long after you are done.
Dennis
August 22nd, 2009
8:56 am
Atlanta, Notre Dame, Baby Brady goes wide to run for first on third down. Uh, oh, you can’t be rough an Baby Brady, Notre Dame wins. Or, the famous 30 second delay on the pass interference call against UGAG in 1997.
Dennis
August 22nd, 2009
9:01 am
I will add that the ref’s made up for it with Sanks fumble. What a great day. Quincy Carter in a UGAG unitard, Joe smiling at the overtime coin flip, “what you going to do now Q?”
hey ktowndawg
August 22nd, 2009
12:41 pm
the only legitimate TECH is the tech that has a 100 year football legacy and is renowned as one of the top engineering schools in the world. here is a clue for ya … IT aint vpi sue.
gt has 4 national championships and vpi sue has????????
maybe they think that having thugs like the vick brothers on their team makes them relevant? one has to question when they will retire the jerseys of those two thugs.
last time i looked vpi sue has been relevant for maybe 10 years or so. werent they an all girls community college before then? as soon as beamer the schemer retires vpi sue will go back to being the duke of acc football.
speaking of scheming… rumor has it that beamer schemed on the jersey incident.
speaking of a beat down… one only needed to look at beamer’s face last year after the game to see that he knew he had gotten away with one thanks to the refs. he looked like the sheepish boxer who won a split decision even though he knew he really lost.
the only 2 virginia schools i know of are univ of virginia an vpi sue.
speaking of whiners… didnt vpi sue force the state of virginia and the acc into accepting them into the ACC? wah wah wah.
talk about a stadium… anybody been to the vpi sue stadium? its a concrete bunker in the middle of a cow pasture. if one didnt know better it could be mistaken for a parking garage. talk about atmosphere.
James Whitfield
August 22nd, 2009
1:31 pm
I know w (TECH) have at least 5 wins against Miami. We beat em back in the 50’s with Bobby’s kicking game with a punt return. I think it was the first nationaly televised color game.
flapjacket
August 22nd, 2009
3:26 pm
Take a look at the Tech-Clemson series. Can’t remember the numbers off the top of my head, but Tech has absolutely dominated that series. I want to say 40 something to less than 20.
flapjacket
August 22nd, 2009
3:40 pm
OK, to answer a previous question, We have winning records against all but 3 ACC teams, and those three are ahead of us by a combined 8 games. Here is Tech’s record against the ACC, with Tech’s victories first:
BC – 5-2
Clemson – 47-24-2
Duke – 45-30-1
FSU – 8-12-1
Maryland – 13-6
Miami – 10-4
UNC – 23-18-3
NCSU – 17-9
UVA – 14-16-1
VT – 2-4
WFU – 20-8
So we only have losing records against FSU by 4 and UVA/VT by 2.
GT Tickets in Savvy Shopper?
August 23rd, 2009
9:18 am
You GT people attack everyone yet you can’t even sell out your stadium that rests in middle of a 5 million people. VT sells out every ticket, every year and they are in the middle of the mountains. Pitiful. What is most laughable is that GT is two weeks out from kickooff and still advertising for season ticket sales in the SAVVY SHOPPER COUPON BOOKLETS!!!!!!!!!!
DAWG DOMINATION
August 23rd, 2009
9:26 am
HA! I did see Georgia Tech season and individual game tickets for sale in the COUPON BOOKLET! Hahaahaahaaha…It was in there with 9.95 oil changes and 9.95 pizza coupons. UGA, VT, UNC and MIAMI will beat the beez this year. Coupon Booklets! Ha! You can’t get a VT or UGA ticket unless you’re a major donor. Coupon Booklets? Hahahahahahaha!
superDawg
August 23rd, 2009
12:23 pm
Well I have seen it all now gt tickets in a coupon book.Now thats funny.
superDawg
August 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
If I were a tek fan I would stick my head in the sand and wave to saint simons.
BANDWAGON
August 23rd, 2009
12:31 pm
Free coupon,free hot dog,free ride come on it’s free.
superDawg
August 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
ramble get with it boy time is running out.
superDawg
August 23rd, 2009
12:35 pm
flap jacket that ain’t saying much.What’s your record against UGA.
I Bleed White and Old Gold
August 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
Darwin Holt! Who cares which conference he played in???
All time, No. 1 Most hated. Theron Sapp ain’t a bad guy to hate either!
AtlantaNative62
August 23rd, 2009
10:16 pm
Matt Ryan. He killed us on our own turf. There was a bogus helmet to helmet call in that game too. Philip Wheeler (who is quite a bit shorter than Ryan) was called for the penalty. The only way their heads were at the same level is because Ryan ducked as Wheeler closed in on him.
JW
August 24th, 2009
8:40 am
For a Wake Forest Villian, does anyone remember Rusty Lurie (sp?). He threw for 300 yds against GT, then hit three or four three’s against us on the basketball court. It seemed like he had career days in both sports against us.
BS Patrol
August 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
Helmet to helmet is another inane infraction that never should have been made. They are both wearing helmets for Christ’s sake! The best sport there is has almost been ruined by these stupid rules! There is no doubt this cost Tech the division championship at least. It has to be hard for player not to walk off the field after this kind of stupidity. If a RB wanted to he could butt a defender in the helmet on every carry get a free extra 15 yards. What kind of idiots are on the Rules Committee? If I were an official I would never call this.
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT!
August 24th, 2009
6:06 pm
My boss, who is a big Tech fan surprised everyone in our office with 2 Tech coupon books each yesterday. Well the first thing that came to my mind was how to get rid of mine without offending the boss. So I drove to the nearest mall and got out of my car. Before entering the mall I put the coupon books under the windshield wiper blade with a sign that said, “FREE TECH FOOTBALL TICKETS.”and hurried inside. Two hours later I came back out and lokked to see if the tickets were gone but I discovered 5 more books under the wiper blade along with the original 2 I already had!
secball
August 24th, 2009
10:12 pm
What are you talking about when you say “when Bama and GT were two of the most dominant programs in the country”? You need to check your football history. GT was no longer “dominant” when Bear was at Alabama. Bear started at Bama in 1958 and Tech was already well on their decline and even at that, only in the SEC a few more years after 1958.
Confused Tech Fan
August 25th, 2009
11:01 am
Our big rivals, thats easy…
Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama..oh wait,, thats was when we were in a REAL conference.
OK
North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest….oh wait, thats basketball
OK you gt me..other than Georgia..who ARE our rivals anyway?
UGASlobberknocker
August 25th, 2009
11:04 am
I dont often defend my Tech geek buds..but I must point out..Re; Georgia’s record vs. it’s 5 biggest SEC rivals (Tenn,Aub,Fla,LSU,Ala). We have winning record vs. one of them..Fla..and that margin has been shrinking fast the last 20 yrs.
Therefore this is one discussion where I wont bang on the jackets
Rick Jenkins
August 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
Georgia Tech still has a football team? LMAO
Big B
August 25th, 2009
12:09 pm
Well, don’t worry…. That VT caravan will be coming to Atlanta again to beat you down. I for one know it’s easier to get a seat at Bobby Dood than at Wade Wallace regardless of the opponent. That said, I look for about 50% of that place looking like Lane stadium at kickoff… Keep talkin crap GT fans because it’s fanbases like yours that give the ACC a bad rap. When you can sellout your own stadium, you can participate in discussions.
HokieDawg
August 25th, 2009
12:19 pm
GT has a football team?
GulagCarpaccio
August 25th, 2009
12:27 pm
Hey HokieDawg – that Tech football team you don’t know about just justed your team’s behind last year – so what does that make your band of losers then?
Willie Coyote
August 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
Gailey & Curry?
Tom (Atlanta)
August 25th, 2009
1:12 pm
The real question is…if GT is so great at football then why have they been PASSED OVER TWICE by THEIR OWN CITY to play Alabama in the GA Dome???
Tech fan
August 25th, 2009
1:21 pm
haha there is only one Tech in the ACC and it’s located in Virginia.
Amazed Hokie
August 25th, 2009
1:32 pm
First, Chris Boggs, nobody asked you so crawl back into that hole you came out of. VT plays physical and aggressive football and we’re proud of it. It’s not a game for weenies (see UVA). Any display of unsportsmanship is actually rare and an aberation. You’re the “punk”, punk. To all the GT fans, good luck this year. You’re program seems to be on the upswing and it is helping to make the ACC a better and stronger conference. Go Jackets!
Ryan (Atlanta)
August 25th, 2009
2:14 pm
How is VT the new “punk” team of the ACC? If you would, I’d like for you to elaborate and explain just what our players have done to earn that title. If the answer happens to be that we’ve just flat out fielded a better team than you since joining the ACC, well that’s just sour grapes. GT fans are usually some of the more level headed fans in the ACC right behind Clemson’s but you are way out in left field with your comments about VT. You’re about as far off as many of Reggie Ball’s pass attempts, as ill-advised as Reggie Ball running out of the back of the end zone for a safety against VT, and as stupid as the Reggie Ball who was ineligible for his last bowl game as a Yellow Jacket.
The truth hurts sometimes; Virginia Tech is the Face of the ACC…Georgia Tech is the continued Face of Mediocrity. THREE ACC Titles in 5 seasons versus ZERO titles in the same span. GT couldn’t even beat a Wake Forest team in 2006 that the Hokies pummeled 27-6 that same season.
Put down your pen. Unplug your keyboard. Hand over the keys to your office. I just showed everyone viewing the AJC blog something else the Hokies are better at than the Jackets: Reasoning, rationalizing, and supporting an argument.
Hokies, out.
Fantastic Hokie
August 25th, 2009
2:23 pm
Jackets you had your chance to win ACC and Wake kicked you stingy butts. VT is not the villians of the league. They are the CLASS of the league. All I see from this blogger is HokieENVY! Like one said baby win like the Hokies or think about it like GT. You will have your chance blogger clown in Hotlanta. Prediction here VT wins again. Hell UVA beat you guys last year in Atlanta with that great O. Oh and the embarrassment for ACC in CHICFILA BOWL. c’mon guys step up or shut up!
Fantastic Hokie
August 25th, 2009
2:26 pm
Chris Boggs is a LOSER